State budget committee okays $123 million in cuts

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State Capitol, Madison

State budget committee okays $123 million in cuts

State Capitol, Madison

MADISON (AP) — The Legislature’s budget-writing committee has approved about $123 million in cuts across state government, more than a third of which fall to the University of Wisconsin System.

The cuts had been previously approved but not specified in the state budget. Gov. Scott Walker’s administration outlined the specific cuts in December and on Wednesday the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee approved them on a party line vote.

Even after they are implemented, the state budget still faces a $143 million shortfall by the middle of 2013.

UW’s share of the cuts would be about $46 million over four months. That is on top of a previously approved $250 million two-year reduction.

Walker’s Department of Administration ordered agencies to make the cuts without layoffs, if possible.